Rain doesn't dampen Port Orange Relay for Life celebration

Thursday

May 8, 2014 at 5:00 AM

By TAYLOR ASHLEYCorrespondent

PORT ORANGE – Rain did not dampen the spirits of cancer survivors as they joined with families and friends in Relay for Life on May 3 at the Port Orange Pavilion. “Would a cancer patient not go in for treatment because of weather?” said Leslie Castillo-Solis, Relay for Life community relations representative. The Relay is an organized overnight community fundraising walk that celebrates participants and survivors, remembers those who have, or are fighting cancer or have lost their battles, and inspires participants to take action. Carla Braga, 45, Port Orange, was the featured cancer patient at the Relay for Life, giving a thumbs up and a smile before taking the stage. “I never started a fight in my life, but I've ended them,” Braga told the crowd, referring to her training as a Brazilian jujitsu fighter in her native Brazil. Braga is battling invasive stage 2B breast cancer. Her treatment includes 16-weeks of chemo followed by surgery and radiation. Braga is also a Zumba instructor and planned on leading a zumba class during the event. “Zumba keeps me going and smiling,” Braga said.Cynthia Miller, 64, a breast cancer survivor has the support of her family helping her raise money for the cause. In fact, it is literally a Family Affair with a booth and family members dressed as superheroes running it.“We raised $7,500 this year,” Megan Miller said of the family fundraising activities. Relay for Life began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt walked and ran around a track for 24 hours in Tacoma, Wash., ultimately raising $27,000 to help the American Cancer Society. The Relay for Life movement has grown into a worldwide event raising nearly $5 billion with more than 4 million people in more than 20 countries.

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